Libraries serve as shelter for storm refugees

By Christina Hennessy, Staff Writer

Published 9:18 pm, Monday, March 15, 2010

Area libraries have not been at a loss for patrons since the weekend's storms.

"It started (Sunday) at 12 o'clock, and it has been incredibly busy," said Alice Knapp, director of the New Canaan Public Library. "People are coming in to get warm, to get something to read and to plug in their phones and to plug in their computers."

Seats were at a premium, and the feeling of community was strong.

"They are all sharing stories of what happened to them," Knapp said, who worked as director of public services at Stamford's Ferguson Library before moving to the New Canaan post about a year ago.

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Most area libraries were open when contacted Monday, and they were expected to remain open, sometimes with extended hours, until the storm damage was cleared. All ages were attracted to the promise of heat, electricity and entertainment. With the libraries offering wireless Internet access and free use of computers, many were coming in to stay connected.

"It is a refuge, really," said Linda Avellar, communications supervisor at the Ferguson Library.

Although Avellar did not have exact numbers, she said the traffic appeared twice as busy on the main branch's third floor, where the computers for public use are housed. The children's area also was very busy at the main and South End branches, Avellar said.

Children and teens may have had the day off from school, but they were not letting homework duties slip.

By midday Monday, Greenwich's main branch had already recorded about 1,900 visitors, just a hundred or so less than the total count for the previous Monday. The library closes at 9 p.m. on Mondays. At 1,700 visitors Sunday, the library had 500 more people enter its doors than the previous Sunday.

The influx at other places led to some improvising. To appeal to the younger set, the Darien Public Library decided to offer a matinee of the animated film "Ponyo," and it was planning to offer another children's film Tuesday, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," at 1:30 p.m.

"We are packed, absolutely filled to the gills," said Barbara Thomas, the library's media and publicity manager.

Nearly 1,000 visited the library Sunday, a number higher than normal, said Thomas. She noted that the demand on the wireless network, at one point hitting 148 users, also was high.

Over at the Norwalk Public Library's main branch on Belden Avenue, Judy Rivas was watching residents stream in to gain Internet access. She said she suspected that even patrons with electricity may have had telecommunications services knocked out, prohibiting access to the Web.

"We have been swamped," said Rivas, the director of library information services. She has been with the library for 25 years.

Four hours before close Monday, the library had already seen more than 1,000 patrons come through the doors, which is typically the total amount for the day.

Maxine Bleiweis, director of the Westport Public Library, said she knew the accommodations were going to become tight when the first stream of people began arriving Sunday. The library stayed open until 7 p.m. that day, two hours later than normal.

"Of the thousands that arrive each day, some part of that population goes in and out, but in this case, they just stayed and stayed," she said.

Staff writer Christina Hennessy can be reached at christina.hennessy@scni.com or 203-964-2241.